Whether you’re packing up your belongings in preparation for a move, or if you’re simply shipping something out to a distant friend or family member, it’s important that you make sure any breakables are packed to prevent damage in transit. While padding everything with layers and layers of bubble wrap might seem like the best course of action, there are more efficient, less bulky ways to make sure anything fragile is kept safe for shipping. Find out how to pack your breakables the smart way by checking out these 6 tips for efficient shipping preparations.
- Use Smaller Boxes
The general tendency is to buy lots of large boxes and fit as many items in them as possible. But packing breakables in big boxes can easily cause the entire package to weigh too much and to contain too many separate items. Use smaller boxes when packing breakables to keep everything at a manageable weight and to prevent contents at the bottom from giving in to heaviness.
- Avoid Empty Spaces
When packing breakables, it’s important to make sure you don’t leave any empty spaces where items can slide and move around during shipping. Fill in empty areas with paper, cloth, or Styrofoam beans to keep items from moving around in the space.
- Pad Your Boxes
Wrapping items in bubble wrap or cling foil and packing them into unpadded boxes doesn’t protect them any better than simply placing them in containers without all the wrapping. Use pp foam on your breakables and along the inside of boxes to add an extra layer of protection.
- Wrap Individually
Some people pack their items together to save time and space. For instance, a glass casserole with a matching lid might be wrapped together with bubble wrap, but that makes it prone to damage if and when shipping gets bumpy. Wrap each item individually and then wrap them together if necessary to prevent breakage due to contact.
- Be Generous With Tape
It might be difficult to remove too much tape when you start unpacking, but layering on the adhesive will prevent a lot of damage-causing movement in transit. Don’t be afraid to secure everything down with all the tape you have, and use wider strips to close boxes and keep items in place.
- Refrain from Stacking
Stacking boxes that contain breakables can put items at the bottom in serious danger of damage. When loading all of your boxes, place all containers with breakables at the bottom with assorted, lighter boxes on top.
Don’t let the shipping process damage your valuable breakables. Make sure everything arrives at the destination in one piece by taking note of these 6 smart tips for packing fragile items.